Rotary sifter



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. H. C 0 OK. ROTARY SIFTER.

YNO; 419,751.

patented-Jan. 21, 1890.

Eiv

(No Mo'del.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ROTARY SIPTER. No. 419,751. Patented Ja,I1.21,1890.

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@xlib/www 3 wv antoja Burfmzicwi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURTON H. COOK, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

ROTARY SIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,751, dated January21, 1850.

Application liled October 8, 1889.

To cir/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BURTON H. COOK, of lrooklyn, Kings county, New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Sitters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention applies more especially to ash-sifters, and aims to providea sifterof the rotary class which shall be lparticularly cheap, simple,and eifective. To this end I construct the sifter with an inclosingrectangular box or case adapted to fit over an ashbarrel and containinga rotary sifting screen or drum polygonal in cross-section, open at eachend, and mounted on a horizontal or a horizontally-inclined axis withinthe case, from which an axial crank-handle projects to revolve the drum.An internal stationary partition in the case covers the lower half ofthe open end of the drum at its initial or recelvmg end, and a permanentreceiving-hopper Opening on the exterior of the case delivers thedeposited4 cinders through a segmental opening in the top of saidstationary partition into the receiving end of the drum. The drumconsists of light polygonal rings or wheels having inwardly-recessedspokes and hubs secured to the central axle, the said rings b elngsurrounded by wire-cloth wired to said rings. Upon the interior of lthewire-cloth drum is aflixed a spiral web or flange or a spirally-arrangedseries of flanges, which have a screw action to better agitate lthecinders and convey them positively and gradually to the discharge endofthe drum. This discharging end of the drum is open, but normally coveredby a slide close to the rim of the drum, which, when withdrawn, allowsthe cinders to fall into a permanent pendent pocket or chamber on thedelivery end `of the case, and which pocket or chamber has a slidingbottom to allow of dumping the sifted cinders into the scuttle or otherreceptacle,

when required.

The improved rotary sifter is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of the improved sifter.Fig. 2'is an inverted plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section in a planeindicated by the line 3 3 in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a cross-section, on asmaller scale, in a plane Serial No. 326,325. (No model.)

indicated by the line et 4 in Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail view showingthe means for attaching the wire-cloth to. the frame-work of the drum;and Fig. 6 is a sectional View similar 55 to Fig. 4, showing amodilication.

Referring to the drawings, A is the case Of the sifter, which ispreferably a rectangular wooden box, square in cross-section, but lessthan the diameter of an ordinary ash-barrel B, and in length greaterthan the diameter of the barrel7 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This case isprovided with a circular flanged base C, adapted to t over the upper endof the ash-barrel, as indicated in Fig. 2, the case being entirely openat the bottom within such flanged base, as shown at a in Figs. 1, 2, and3.

D is the rotary sifting drum, which is mounted within the case directlyover the ash-discharge opening a, and the shaft or axle b of which isjournaled at each end in the extreme end walls c c of the case and isprovided with the external crank-handle d at the receiving end of thecase, said crank and axle being preferably formed in one piece of heavywire bent into the form shown. The drum' D is shorter than the case, andis entirely open at each end. The open receiving end of the drum abutsagainst or rotates close to a fixed partition e at the receiving end-ofthe case. The open receiving end of the drum rotates in such closeproximity to the iixed partition e that there is no opportunity for thepassage of cinders between the drum and partition, so that no cloggingof the sitter will result from such cause. The other open end of thedrum, which is the delivery or discharge end, abuts against a removablepartition or slide E, near the discharge end of the case. This removablepartition or slide Eis located some distance from the end wall c, inwhich the drum-shaft is journaled, so that a chamber F is formed beyondthe drum and between the partition E and the rear wall c of the case.This partition or slide is located close to the delivery end of thedrum, so that no cinders can pass between it and the drum. Thispartition E preferably closes the lentire delivery end of the drum, andin order that it may be readily removed and may not interfere with therotation of the drum it is provided with a nar- IOO row open slot f,which passes over the axle b. The top of the fixed partition e is formedwith a half-round or segmental opening g, corresponding tothe interiorof the drum above its axle b, as seen best in Figs. l and 3, forming areceiving-opening delivering into the drum. From the base of thisopening g an inclined chute or bottom h extends to the f ront end of thecase directly under a hopper i, which is open on the top of the case andis provided with hinged lid k, so that by raising said lid the ashes andcinders may be dumped into the hopper, from whence they will bedischarged by the incline h and through the opening g into the openreceiving end of the drum D, as will be readily comprehended from Fig.1.

The drum is formed of two light skeleton wheels or rings m m ofhexagonal, octagonal, or other flat-sided polygonal form, preferably ofcast-iron, each having two or more spokes fn,

- extending to a central hub o, which is fixed on the central axle b.The spokes and hubs of these skeleton rims or rings are bent or recessedaxially inward out of the vertical plane of the rings, so that the hubsand spokes do not obstruct the free entrance of the cinders into theopen end of the drum, as Will be readily comprehended from Fig. l. Thepolygonal skeleton wheels of the drum are wrapped with a web ofwire-cloth G, of suitable mesh, as shown, which lies in a succession offiat planes around the fiat sides of the wheels or rings, and thus formsa flatsided or polygonal sifting-drum, as best shown.

in Fig. 3, which form is best adapted for sifting, since the successiveflat sides and intervening angles or hollows rotating against the massof cinders subjects the same to greater shocks and agitations, and thussifts out the ashes therefrom more eectually than would be the case witha cylindrical drum.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the wire-cloth is secured tothe rims of the skeleton wheels by means of wire loops or staples p p.Each of these wire loops or staples is composed of a short section ofwire, which is passed around one of the rings or rims m through meshesof the wire, and is secured by twisting its ends together, thus bindingthe wire-cloth to the rings or rims in a simple, cheap, and effectivemanner. Now, referring again to Figs. 1 and 3, to the inside of thewire-cloth drum is fixed a continuous spiral web or flange, orpreferably a succession of inclined projections or lugs r, givingtheeffect of an Archimedean advancing screw, with a pitch or inclinationadvancing. from the receiving to the discharge end of the drum. Thesespirally-disposed Webs or fianges greatly assist in agitating thecinders and in keeping them separated and diffused on the sifting-web ofthe drum, and tend toy feed the same gradually and positively toward thedischarge end of the drum, which feeding action is assisted by havingthe drum set in a slightly-inclined position,

as shown.l The drum, however, may be perfectly level, or it may loe muchmore inclined than that illustrated, if preferred. In any case, however,the drum has preferably a uniform diameter throughout its length. Thenarrow chamber F between the removable partition E and the rear Wall ofthe case is prolonged downward below the base of the case, forming apendent cinder-receiving pocket H, which extends beneath the fiangedbase C of the sifter and overhangs the side of the barrel when thesifter is placed thereon, as seen in Fig. 2, whereby it permits of ascuttle or other vessel being placed under said pocket. The bottom ofthis pocket is provided with a movable slide s, to permit the dischargeof the contents of the pocket into the scuttle. l

The action of the sifter will be readily comprehended. The lid k of thehopper z' being raised, the cinders and ashes are dumped into the sameand descend at once into the front end of the drum, and the lid la beingat once closed, the drum is now revolved by turning the crank e. Therotation of the drum scatters and diffuses the cinders upon the wiremesh and the centrifugal force of the rotation, together with thesuccession of flat sides and angles of the polygonal drum and theprogressing action of the spiral or inclined fianges r, subjects thecinders to an effective sifting action, which rapidly separates theashes and dbris from the good cinders. The

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ashes and debris are thus sifted into the ashbarrel while the goodcinders are gradually and positively advanced by the screw action of thefianges r to the discharge end of the drum, where they accumulateagainst the removable partition or slide E. When the sifting has beenthus accomplished, the slide E is raised, permitting the cinders to fallinto the pocket H, from which they may be dumped, when required, intothe underlying scuttle by removing the bottom slide s.

Several features of the construction are to be particularly noted. Thebearings of the drum-shaft are inthe end walls of the case beyond thefixed and sliding partitions. Owing to this construction, the partitionscan be placed in the closest proximity to the open ends of the drum, nospace being required between either partitions for the bearings of thedrum-shaft; and, owing to this relation of the partitions to the drum,there is no opportunity for the escape of the large cinders from thedrum during the sifting operation, nor can the cinders clog the drum andprevent its rotation. An important relation also exists between thedelivery end of the drum being closed by a removable partition and theinlet-opening into the receiving end of the drum being located in thefixed partition above the axis of the drum. Owing to this construction,the lower half oflthe drum in whichv the cinders-and ashes are. retainedis closedat both ends by the two partitions during the entire siftingoperation, so that the IIO IZO

ashes can be thoroughly and e'ntirely separated from the good cindersbefore the sliding partition is opened. The ashes can pass only throughthe wire-cloth into the ash-barrel beneath, and cannot collect beyondthe delivery end of the drum, where they would be in position to bedischarged with the good cinders. At the same time, owing to theposition of the inlet-opening into the drum, none of the cinders orashes can back into the supply-hopper during the sifting operation, butare held in the lower part of the drum, Where they are subjected to theagitation of the drum. Consequently, when the discharge slidingpartition is opened, there is nothing left in the drum except cleancinders.

The presence of the discharge-chamber F and its depending closed pocketH insures the case being air-tight during the sifting operation, so thatno dust will escape into the compartment. In case any dust should siftby the sliding ypartition it` will always be collected in the closedpocket, which is a permanent part of the sifter, so that it alwaysnecessarily is in position. Anysuch collected dust will be removed onthe first opening of the slide s before the sliding partition Eis moved,so that the clean cinders will not become mixed therewith. The pocketthus acts as a discharge-chute, and the presence of such a chute isdesirable, since the sifter is adapted to be placed upon an ashbarrelwhen in use, so that the delivery end of the drum is a considerabledistance above the ground on which the ash-barrel rests. The pocket thusserves as a chute for conducting the cinders into the scuttle, and whenclosed it constitutes a receptacle into which the cinders may be emptiedand retained temporarily.

In Fig. 6 modifications of the sliding partition F are illustrated. Inthe main construction the sliding partition moves vertically through aslot in the-upper Wall of the case. In one modification the slidingpartition F is shown in full lines as a slide capable of lateralmovement through a slot in one` side wall of the case and as having ahorizontal open slot straddling the drum-shaft. A modification of theslide is also indicated in dotted lines, wherein the slide covers onlythe lower half of the drum and does not extend above the drum-shaft.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an ash-sitter, a casing and a rotaryopen-ended sifting-drum the shaft of which is journaled in the end Wallsof said casing, in combination with a iixed partition at the inlet endof said drum, said partition having an inlet-passage therethrough whollyabove the drum-shaft, and amovable sliding partition closing thedelivery end of the drum, said fixed and sliding partitions being inclose proximity to the respective open ends of the drum when the sifteris in operation, so that no space is left for the passage of cindersbetween the ends of4 said drum and said partitions, substantially a-sset forth.

2. In an ash-sifter which is adapted to be used when placed upon anash-barrel, a casing, and a rotary open-ended sifting-drum the shaft ofwhich is `journaled in the end to the delivery end of said drum, so thatno passage is left for cinders between them, substantially as set forth.

3. In an ash-sitter which is adapted to be used when placed upon anash-barrel, a casing, and a rotary open-ended sifting-drum Vthe shaft ofwhich is journaled in the end Walls of the casing, in combination with adischargingchamber between the delivery end of the drum and the rear endwall of the casing, said chamber being extended downwardly to form adepending pocket or discharge-chute for the cinders from said drum, aslide closing the lower end of said pocket or chute, and a removablesliding partition covering the delivery end of the drum and separatingit from said discharging-chamber, said sliding partition being in closeproximity to the delivery end of said drum, so that no cinders can passbetween them, substantially as set forth.

4. In an ash-sitter adapted to be used when placed upon an ash-barrel, acasing, an openended sifting-drum the shaft of Which is journaled in theend walls of the casing, a discharging-chamber between the delivery endof the drum and the rear end Wall of the casing, said chamber beingextended downwardly below the drum to form a depending pocket ordischarge-chute for the cinders from said drum, and a slide closing thelower end of said pocket or chute, in combination with a iixed partitionclosing the inlet end of the drum, said fixed partition having aninletopeningwholly above the drum-shaft, and a movable sliding partitionclosing the entire delivery end of said drum and separating it from saiddischarging-chamber, said sliding partition having a slot straddling thedrumshaft, and both said iixed and sliding parti- IOO ITO

tions being located in close proximity to the respective ends of thedrum, so that no space for the passage of cinders is left between thedrum and either of said partitions when the sifter is in operation,substantially as set forth.

5. In an ash-sitter, a casing and a rotaryv sifting-drum, saidsifting-drum comprising a shaft journaled in the end Walls of saidcasing, two end hoops or rings, a Wire-cloth supported on said hoops orrings, land spokes connecting each of said hoops or rings with saidshaft, said spokes being bent inwardly, in oombination With fixedpartitions closing the inlet end of the drum and having an inlet-openingWholly above the drum-shaft, and a movable sliding partition Closing'the delivery end of the drum, both of said partitionsbeing in closeproximity with the respeetive open ends of the drum, substantially InWit-ness whereof I have hereunto signed i my name in the presence ofthree subsor1b1ng Witnesses.

BURTON H. COOK. Witnesses:

JONATHAN HALL, ANDREW A. FosrER, JAMES S. HALL.

